Designing for Forever

Public Radio International's excellent series Studio 360 had a recent segment on folks trying to design signage for radioactive waste storage areas that need to last (and be understood) for millennia...

Water in Africa

Good 50x70 had the great idea to invite designers to submit posters for good causes.

Artist, designer, and urban planner in New York City, Candy Chang, did this great poster in collaboration with James Reeves for the African Medical and Research Foundation (amref) to bring awareness about the scarcity of safe water access in Africa.













Source.

Unicef Campaign in China

This is the new campaign of the UNİCEF association concerning China.
A strong baseline "Don't ignore me" and a touching creation by the Ogilvy & Mather Shanghai Agency.

The sign says : Don’t ignore me.
China has over 1.5 million underprivileged children.
To help, call 020 82266673.












































via commercial-archive.com

Top 10

I recently had the honor of being asked to do a guest Top 10 post for Blogs.com. My chosen subject: "The intersection of design and activism". It was nice to give some publicity to the blogs I enjoy reading. Check out my list HERE.

An Unreal Candidate

Hunter Branson wants your vote for the presidential election this year. Never heard of him? That's because he was the invention of students at the Creative Circus in Atlanta, Georgia. Led by teacher Berwyn Hung, the students hired a fellow student to play the part of Hunter Branson, a fictional candidate, for whom they then crafted a platform, party, website, merchandise, etc. The results (including rallies) were believable enough to get donations (to charities, rather than the campaign) and postitive feedback from people who discovered the website during the primaries earlier this year.

Hunter Branson 2008 website

Haustalks: Richmond, VA

Folks in the Richmond, Virginia area should check out Haustalk, a series of free, monthly socially conscious design forms curated by John O'Neil of Thinkhaus Design at Gallery 5.

The upcoming schedule is as follows...

October 22
Living, Working, and Designing Green: Eco Friendly Consciousness, Part 2
Gallery 5, 7:00 PM

Featuring:
Jocelyn Tice, owner of Green Duck
Green Duck Biodegradables is a local company that makes plant-based packaging available to customers who strive to be Green.

Copeland Casati, President of Green Modern Kits
Green Modern Kits is a team of green architects, house kit fabricators, industrial designers, and furniture craftsmen who produce eco friendly affordable green housing and furniture plans.

Scott Kyle, Founder of Full Scale Architecture
Full Scale Architecture believes advanced green is better than good design. It’s great design. It’s not just about aesthetic appeal, but environmental harmony. And it’s not just sustainable, but regenerative.

November 19
Ethnic and Racial Stereotypes In Mass Media
Gallery 5, 7:00 PM

Featuring:
VCU Graphic Design Sophomore Students
A group of students from the VCU Graphic Design Department, School of the Arts, will be presenting their research on how ethnic and racial stereotypes are currently being used in advertising, brands, and other media outlets.

The Conciliation Project
The Conciliation Project is a social justice nonprofit theatre company in Richmond that develops and conducts theatre performances concerning the historical legacy of racism in America. The theatre performers will be discussing their plays and will provide an overview of the history of racism in America.

December 17
The Gift of Design: Design It Yourself (DIY)
Gallery 5, 7:00 PM

Gallery 5
200 W. Marshall St.
Richmond, Virginia 23220
Phone: 804 644-0005
gallery 5@gallery5arts.org

ALR on tour: South Carolina

I spent this past Thursday through Sunday in Columbia, South Carolina as a guest of the South Carolina AIGA. I gave a lecture on living/working as a socially conscious designer and my Skull-A-Day project to student and professional members of the AIGA, I also met with design students at South Carolina University, and was one of the judges for the AIGA InShow design competition. Thanks to all of the AIGA folks who were such kind hosts, I really enjoyed my visit!

Designism 3.0: October 2nd, NYC

On Thursday, October 2nd the Art Directors Club in NYC will host Designism 3.0, the third annual installment of an ongoing series of talks/discussions about socially conscious design...

Design activism deconstructed! Participate in an evening of discussion, debate, and presentations on Design Activism produced by Brian Collins, COLLINS, and Benjamin Palmer, The Barbarian Group.

A Designism Manifesto delivered by Allan Chochinov, Core77, is followed by IDEO who will share three design-driven projects that initiated real change. Six creatives present forward-thinking projects, and their results, in lightning speed—TAXI, Brainforest, MendeDesign, Avenue A|Razorfish, lettera27, and Brian Hurewitz with lolz. Milton Glaser shares his thoughts on Propaganda. Steven Heller moderates a discussion on the design of politics between Helen Walters, BusinessWeek Innovation & Design channel, Tony Hendra frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, Milton Glaser and surprise guests. ADC introduces its ingenious new tool to support the creative activist community with some additional tools for creatives doing pro bono work.

$30 ADC Members
$40 Non-Members
Opening Sappi Reception from 5:30-6:45pm is free to all who RSVP.

For more details visit the ADC website HERE.

Branding for Nonprofits

I just finished reading DK Holland's excellent Branding for Nonprofits. Published in 2006, this slim volume is a must read for any nonprofit interesting in harnessing the power of branding (which should really be all of them) or even just considering working with professional graphic designers for the first time. Indeed, any designer already working with nonprofits might want to consider handing this out to new clients as a means of introduction.
The book, based on articles and lectures DK created for The Foundation Center, is filled with plenty of real world examples and resources and suggests a system of working that is easy to understand and follow. Holland does an excellent job spelling out the role of design and designers, while detailing most of the issues that come up as part of the branding process. While I wish more time was spent explaining why paying for design from folks that focus on nonprofits is better than asking for pro-bono work from large agencies (who make their money pushing cars, cigarettes, acohol, etc.), Ms. Holland does acknowledge that you often do get what you pay for.


Ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

Voting By Design

The New York Times has posted an interactive graphic on how election ballots could be improved with better graphic design. The suggestions were provided by the AIGA based on the United States Election Assistance Commission's recently released ballot design guidelines. See the before and after images HERE.

Thanks Jeff!

SustainAble Book + Interview

SustainAble is an invaluable new practical handbook on environmentally conscious graphic design from Rockport Books. Author Aaris Sherin, has done a fantastic job of compliling the latest information on materials and techniques for designers interested in working with the environment in mind [full disclosure, my company is featured prominenetly, but I really would recommend it regardless]. Not only is the content on point, but the book itself was printed using a range of sustainable methods (a rarity in publishing). Going beyond standard recycled papers, they actually used make-ready sheets for the covers and end papers. The last real handbook on these issues (The Complete Guide To Eco-Friendly Design by Poppy Evans) came out in 1997 and has been out of print for years, so this type of book has been long overdue. Considering the massive increase in interest in going "green" by corporate America, the need for designers knowledgeable about these issues will only continue to grow as well. Kudos to Rockport being the first to fill the void.

Aaris kindly agreed to a mini-interview about the book, so I sent her a few minimalist questions to answer however she interpreted them...

ALR: Why now?
Aaris Sherin: Graphic Designers tend to be concerned about social and environmental issues, and yet many have not idea how to apply this ideology to their professional practice. Increasingly clients are asking for eco-friendly design solutions and many practitioners are tasked with having to learn the relevant problem-solving and technical specifications for environmentally preferable production. To date there really hasn't been a comprehensive resource to go to for this information. My idea was to make a sort of one-stop reference for
those interested in the topic. The book covers topics that include sustainable forestry, basic history and theory, as well as practical information about eco-friendly production materials and techniques. The second half of the book is devoted to case studies that trace how designers approached specific projects with the environment and social systems in mind.

ALR: How?
Aaris Sherin: The book is filled with tips for how to approach design problem solving and production with sustainability in mind. Here are a few of the most basic. 1. Using proper sizes or asking for custom sheets is an easy way to reduce waste 2. Every designer should be able to identify and understand the value of FSC and other third part certifications 3. Eco-friendly paper doesn't always cost more. 4. Creating customized environmental checklists is a great way to bring consistent value to clients

ALR: So what?
Aaris Sherin: I really believe that design has a crucial role to play as we move toward the cultural shift that will need to happen in order to become more sustainable. Graphic design is so often the conduit between manufacturing/services and customers/audiences; as such we can bring value to clients who working with environmental and social consciousness in mind. By making simple changes in the way we work and offering our services to like-minded organizations there is an opportunity to make fantastic, visually arresting work that doesn't have to cost the earth.

ALR: What's next?
Aaris Sherin: There are so many people (many of whom were early adopters) who have created their own resources, libraries, and community groups for teaching and practicing sustainable design. As I talked to people I realized that a lot of them are duplicating each other's work. We really need more resources and more sharing of information so that the next generation isn't tasked with replicating our work.


SustainAble is in stores now and of course available via Powells and Amazon.com.

Design Power Defined

Julie Thompson created the Design Power site as part of her graduate thesis project at Ohio University. It gives a working definition of socially responsible design and uses three case studies (including one on ALR!) to discuss the key components of working from an ethical perspective: client choice, environmental practices, and community education. Read her entire report HERE.

DIY Fonts

FontShop, a popular typeface company has embraced the current DIY ethic by creating a free online font creation tool: FontStruct. Not only is it designed for ease of use, but the resulting fonts are then available for free download under a variety of Creative Commons licences! Find out more, get fonts, or make your own HERE.

Clipart Activism

The recently released book Reproduce & Revolt from Just Seeds features 500+ black and white activism themed clip art images (including a few of my own!) that are free for use on political posters, banners, flyers, etc. An invaluable resource/reference for everyone in the activism community. The book can be purchased online HERE.

Urban Forest Project

My friend and fellow socially conscious designer Mark Randall of World Studio/World Studio Foundation, talks about his Urban Forest Project:

Groundswell

It's always great to discover another resource for socially minded artists online and the Groundswell Collective's Groundswell Blog is a welcome addition. With a wide range of articles on subjects that will be familiar to ALR reader you should definitely add them to your regular reading list. Check 'em out HERE.

Free Guide to Information Design

My friend John at Social Design Notes has created an excellent free resource: Visualizing Information for Advocacy: An Introduction to Information Design. The downloadable PDF booklet contains tips and examples to help advocacy groups better communicate their messages with graphic design. Get the PDF HERE.

ReThinking The Environment In The Carolinas

The Raleigh AIGA recently asked me to be one of the judges for a poster competition promoting environmentalism in North and South Carolina called: re|THINK. The 20 winning posters, selected by myself and 2 other judges, will be on display (and for sale) at the Designbox gallery in Raleigh, NC for the month of April, with an opening reception on April 4th. Even if you're not in the area you can preview all of the winning designs online now HERE.

Designism 2.0

If you missed this year's Art Director's Club talk on socially conscious design, "Designism 2.0", you can check out a podcast of it HERE.

My friend John attended the event and posted an excellent review on his Social Design Notes blog HERE.

Design Rebels 2007: RISE-NOW

Students in my Fall 2007 Design Rebels class on socially conscious design created two terrific community based projects as their final assignments.

The first is RISE-NOW a poster/web campaign to educate on the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence. Read more about it in my article on Osocio HERE.

I'll post about the 2nd project CHOMP, a healthy living program for middle school students, when the finished version is online.

My Favorite Pen

I teach a class on socially conscious design and as a way of demonstrating the power of design to explain complicated issues I use a pen as a prop. It's not just any pen though, it's one designed by Stefan Sagmeister for the community action group TrueMajority.org as a means of demonstrating the disproportionate spending on the U.S. military in comparison to our "enemies". The reverse shows how a fraction of that budget could be used to fully support several other government programs that have continual underfunding problems. To buy your own pens and other well designed politically minded goodies check out the TrueMajorityShop.

The best social advertising blog returns!

After a long wait the excellent Houtlust blog has returned as Osocio. As in the past the site collects the best of advertising/marketing for social issues/non-profits from across the globe, but the new incarnation includes extra features like news feeds, non-profit profiles, and a dictionary of terminology. Probably the biggest change is that Marc van Gurp, who ran Houtlust solo has added several new editors to the site from around the world (including yours truly!).

Osocio is a truly indispensable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of marketing and social good.

Roundtables on Socio-Political Graphics in L.A.

If you're in the Los Angeles area this month you may want to check out the free series of roundtable discussions sponsored by the local student AIGA group in conjunction with the exhibition The Graphic Imperative: International Posters for Peace, Social Justice and the Environment 1965-2005, at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, on the campus of Cal State L.A.

NOV/8 Conversation w/John Clark, Nancy LeMay + Carol Wells
NOV/15 Conversation w/Eric Lindroth, Tomas Benitez + Garland Kirkpatrick
NOV/29 Conversation w/Rebeca Mendez, Mary Sutton + Zelda Harrison

More details HERE.

Design Rebel: James Victore

I had the pleasure of meeting artist/designer/activist/teacher James Victore yesterday.

He was a visiting lecturer at Virginia Commonwealth University's Graphic Design department and also met with my Design Rebels class where he shared his personal experiences working for excitement rather than money. Some choice quotes:

"I don't want to be known as a graphic designer."

"We're supposed to be the people who make culture, not decorate culture."

And when asked what school he went to said, "Ecole Des Hard Knocks. Whatever you learn there you keep."

He also passed out the stickers, shown above.

See more of his work here.

Call for Entries: Socially Conscious Design Competition

The San Francisco AIGA's socially conscious design competition Cause/Affect is accepting submissions now through November 9th. From their site:

cause/affect is a biennial graphic design competition which celebrates the work of designers and organizations who set out to positively impact our society and communities.

All work entered in the competition must promote or support social good and actively engage in enriching our lives. It can raise awareness about a cause or condition. It can celebrate an arts institution or event. All we ask is that it doesn’t contribute directly to the profit of a commercial organization.

This is a competition for do-gooders, who do good work. And it is open to all.

More details and entry forms can be found here.

Thanks Brad!

John Emerson: "When Should Designers Make a Political Commitment"

My friend and fellow socially conscious design blogger John Emerson has an excellent article in the new issue of Communication Arts. He's created a fictional conversation between designers discussing their role when it comes to politics, addressing many of the questions that get asked of activist designers on a regular basis:

Sam: Sounds great. But do you ever feel conflicted? I mean, look at those posters about the genocide in Darfur. I’m all for rising to the challenge, but don’t these things just take advantage of the cause by exploiting some tragedy as an excuse to make a clever design?

Robin: Well, if I care about a cause, why shouldn’t I respond and communicate that? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with clever, as long as it helps you get your point across.

Read the entire article here.

Social Atelier

Social Atelier is a collective of artists/activists who are using fashion to talk about social issues. Their current collection of 100% Organic Cotton T-shirts feature text on issues of global warming, war, body image, genocide, gay marriage, poverty, and AIDS. Sales of the the shirts, which were launched in an Ethical Night Out event, benefit the Solar Cooker Project. Read more here.

ActivsMart Grand (virtual) Opening!

Today is the grand opening of ActivsMart a virtual store from our friends at Design for Social Impact. The shop is filled with products featuring their friendly, colorful message driven graphics. All profits go to fund special projects of DfSI like the WPA Living Archive and Activist Trolley Tour. Plus they are giving away a free handmade print with every order placed today! Check it out here.

Index Awards for Design To Improve Life

The non-profit Copenhagen based Index promotes "Design To Improve Life" via networking and annual international industrial design competitions. This year's Index: Awards nominees are available for review online. Under the categories Body, Home, Work, Play, and Community the entries range from easier to use tourniquets to eco-friendly knives to alternative school furniture. Learn more here.

Sheep Tracker

Flocks allows wool sweater buyers to have an intimate knowledge of the source of their garment. Each item they produce is made from a single sheep and includes an I.D. number and info card on that animal.

Thanks Jen!

Plate Design Diet

Plates with designs that help measure portions are as effective as if not better than medication in helping people with type-2 diabetes loose weight. Details on BBC News.

via Social Design Notes

Terrorist Logos

Ironic Sans has an fascinating article on the design of terrorist organizations logos. While more an overview than a definitive study it is certainly an engrossing compendium which begs some interesting unanswered questions about how these logos get designed and by whom.

Activist Designer Roundtable: 7/17 Oakland, CA

This just in from the folks at Design Action Collective:

We're finally able to follow up on the highly successful 2004 Designs on Democracy conference! If you were there, you will remember what a great information exchange and relationship building opportunity that big get-together was. Ever since, we've been trying to foment other, more ground-up ways of recapturing that experience, and further developing it into an on-going exchange that will benefit the Movement for the long-term.

The format: A monthly series of presentations and facilitated round-table discussions on topics of interest to activist designers.

The goal: To strengthen our ability to provide the social justice movement with effective graphic design, visual communications and other advertising services. Recognizing that we play a vital role in countering the propaganda of the right, we want to foster communication, sharing and collaboration between like-minded activist-designers (and eliminate/reduce competition).

The Topics: These could range from the specific ("what is your logo design process") to the broad and political ("The role of political posters for the MySpace generation"). Participant interest will determine topics.

The location: The new Eastside Arts Alliance building
2277 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94606

The first DoD Roundtable will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2007. 6:30 - 9 pm. "Progressive Communications in Design, Part I"
We will decide on a topic for this and a couple subsequent round-tables at this first meeting with your input.

Subsequent Roundtables will be on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for the rest of 2007.

What to bring: Your ideas. And if possible, a snack or beverage to share (but more important you come).


Designs on Democracy

ps. Please RSVP if you're planning to come or if you're interested in future sessions!!

Nadia Khastagir
nadia _ AT _ designaction.org

Extreme Green Guerrilla

What do Extreme Green Guerrillas do? Eat roadkill and kill themselves at age 40 among other things. At least that's what Royal College of Art design student Michiko Nitta proposed as part of her graduate project dealing with the future of environmentalism. Get the full details along with diagrams and photos here.

(Shown left, a Rattit: a mutant hybrid of Rat and Rabbit that EGGs will enjoy eating)

via We Make Money Not Art

ALR in 1000 Retail Graphics

My company's logo design for Metamorphosis Mind + Body Boutique, a holistic spa in Richmond, VA is included in the new book 1000 Retail Graphics from Rockport Publishers.

The Future of Design?

Opensource Productdesign is an online forum that presents a new working environment for industrial designers that embraces the Open Source movement and proposes a democratic means of creation. The currently listed projects are only in idea/research phases so it'll be a little while before we see how successful the model will really be. Does this have an application for graphic design as well or is this a potential for too many cooks in the kitchen?

Thanks Christian!

Good Posters